back to your love; van mccann

take me back to your tears

chapter seven

charlotte

after a long 7 hours of flying, plus a layover in new york, i finally make it to the airport in connecticut where all of the guys are. it takes awhile to get to the venue, not really knowing where i'm going and taking an uber really isn't the best idea. once we get to the venue, i grab my stuff after paying the guy, heading towards the back entrance where the buses are parked. luckily, i see larry getting stuff out of the bottom of the bus, and i hurry over.

"larry!" i call, and he immediately looks over, his face in shock as he sees it's me.

"charlotte? what are you doing here?" he asks when i hug him, and i smile sheepishly at him.

"i've come to fix things with van.. he hasn't called in awhile, so.." i sigh, and larry doesn't look me in the eye.

"char.. van knows that yous and bondy have a thing. i really don't think you should be here right now, there's already enough shit going on between everyone anyway. you'll just make it worse." larry says and my eyes widen. no wonder van hasn't called and that makes me even more anxious.

"what happened?! how did van take it, oh my God.." i ramble, covering my face with my hands as i think of the worst.

"its van, he obviously didn't take it very well.. you now how overprotective he can get." larry says, and i take a deep breath before taking my hands off of my face.

"let me see him.. i need to, okay?" i say, giving a serious look to larry to know that i'm not joking around.

"alright... they're sound checking so follow me." he says and my heart starts to race as we start walking.

as soon as we get inside through the back, i automatically hear the riff of 'kathleen', and i smile to myself a bit. larry takes me to the side of the stage and we watch them do their thing. although i do notice there's a little tension through out, bondy standing further from van than usual and my heart sinks a bit.

"let's go in the dressing room, they're almost done." he says and i nod, setting my stuff by one of the couches once we get in there.

"look.. when van gets in here, stay please? i don't know how he'll react seeing me and with you here you could stop him if he over reacts." i ask, and larry sighs.

"fine, but not too long, i have to go take care of the stage for the opening band before the doors open." he says, and i thank him, giving him a small smile but it's quickly wiped off.

"what the bloody hell are you doing here?" van speaks from behind me, and i take a deep breath as i turn to look at him.

"uh.. i've come to talk to you about what's happened." i say, hoping he'll actually sit down and talk with me in a civil fashion.

"no! i don't care what you have to say! you fucking cheated on me with one of my best mates!" he yells, causing the other guys to step out, besides larry.

"mate, will ya just listen to her please." larry tries and i mouth a thank you to him.

"do you love him?" van completely ignores larry, furrowing his eyebrows at me, moving closer to me so he's basically towering over me.

"what? van, i-i.. no, i don't. i don't know why you would think that." i say, my mouth agape as i have to lean my head back to look up at him.

"why'd you do it? i thought we 'loved' each other, huh?!" he yells, and i back away from him immediately.

"i do love you, van! i never stopped.. i don't know why i did it, okay?! we were drunk and you were recording... i just felt lonely." i ramble, tears falling down my cheeks.

"you weren't lonely, i made sure to put you first! you're the one who continued to shag him!" he yells, and i gape at him.

"no, you didn't van. if i remember, when i asked you to come to have a few drinks you said, 'have to record, that's more important right now'" i yell back, causing him to furrow his eyebrows even more in frustration.

"that doesn't justify what you did!" he yells back and i roll my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest.

"look, i've come here to talk with you and i plan on doing just that. you need to listen to me, van. you're 24 for fucks sake, act like it." i say sternly, and he looks confused for a second at my sudden change in tone.

"what the bloody hell is all the yelling for?!" someone says as they walk in, and i look behind van to see bondy, causing my heart to stop. "oh fuck."

"speak of the fucking devil." van says and my heart is beating too fast to say anything. "what the hell do you want?"

"i was just seeing who was yelling.. now i see." bondy says, looking me in the eye but i just look away, avoiding eye contact as much as possible.

"bondy i really think you should go." larry says, and i feel bad for all of the shit he has to deal with.

"wait, charlotte don't let him talk you down, alright? he doesn't get to control you like that." bondy says, talking about van, and i just look away, feeling my body tense up.

"alright, let's go!" larry says quickly as van takes a step towards bondy, his face screwed up in anger.

"van just please let me talk this out with you. it's not as bad as you think." i beg as soon as the door shuts, leaving me alone with just van.

"not as bad as i think?! you cheated on me, charlotte! then acted like nothing even happened!" he yells and i take his hand and start to unravel the fist his fingers are in, putting it to my chest as i pull him closer to me to hopefully calm him down.

"please, baby. i miss you way too much and i know you miss me too. just please forgive me, okay?" i say, and his face softens for the most part.

it's silent as i press soft kisses to his jaw, having to stand on my tippy toes to reach. i feel his arms wrap around my waist, causing me to smile against his chin. he takes advantage quickly, lifting a hand to hold my chin, lifting me up to his lips and pressing them against mine. i immediately wrap my arms around his neck, feeling in bliss once again since i've missed his kisses so much.